Heat exchanger tubes and tube assembly configurations

Abstract

Embodiments include various water heaters. In one example, a water heater includes a burner, an exhaust vent, a corrugated baffle having a first slit having a first length and a second slit having a second length that is less than the first length, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a first set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a first row, and a second set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a second row, the second set of heat exchanger tubes having a third tube having a first angled surface and a second angled surface, where the first angled surface and the second angled surface together form a fin. The third tube can be arranged such that the fin is disposed at least partially between the first curved outer surface and the second curved outer surface.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater comprising:
 a burner;   an exhaust vent; and   a heat exchanger comprising:
 a first set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a first row, the first set of heat exchanger tubes comprising a first heat exchanger tube having a first fin with a first curved outer surface, and a second heat exchanger tube having a second fin with a second curved outer surface; and 
 a second set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a second row, the second set of heat exchanger tubes comprising a third heat exchanger tube having a third fin that is at least partially formed with a first angled surface and a second angled surface; 
 wherein the third heat exchanger tube is arranged such that the third fin is disposed at least partially between the first curved outer surface and the second curved outer surface, 
 wherein the first set of heat exchanger tubes has a first number of heat exchanger tubes, and the second set of heat exchanger tubes has a second number of heat exchanger tubes that is greater than the first number of heat exchanger tubes, and 
 wherein each heat exchanger tube of the first set of heat exchanger tubes has a first geometrical configuration, and each heat exchanger tube of the second set of heat exchanger tubes has the first geometrical configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first fin of the first heat exchanger tube further comprises:
 a first flat side surface; and   a second flat side surface;   wherein a first end of the first curved outer surface is adjacent to the first flat side surface, and a second end of the first curved outer surface is adjacent to the second flat side surface.   
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the second row is an upper row and the first row is a lower row. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the third fin of the third heat exchanger tube further comprises:
 a flat surface disposed between the first angled surface and the second angled surface;   wherein the flat surface forms a lower portion of the fin.   
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the first angled surface and the second angled surface each have a first width, and the flat surface has a second width that is less than the first width. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of heat exchanger tubes and the second set of heat exchanger tubes are arranged in an offset configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a baffle comprising a first end plate and a second end plate.   
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein an air gap separates the fin from the baffle. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle is a corrugated baffle comprising a first groove and a second groove. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater of  claim 9 , wherein the corrugated baffle comprises a first slit having a first length and a second slit having a second length that is less than the first length; and
 wherein the first slit is disposed along the first groove and the second slit is disposed along the second groove, and wherein the second groove is closer to a center of the corrugated baffle than the first groove.   
     
     
         11 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the corrugated baffle is solid along a first edge and along a second edge, the first edge and the second edge being parallel to the first groove. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the first end plate and the second end plate are discrete components positioned at opposite ends of the first row or the second row. 
     
     
         13 . A water heater comprising:
 a heat exchanger comprising:
 a first set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a first row, the first set of heat exchanger tubes comprising a first heat exchanger tube having a first fin with a first curved outer surface, and a second heat exchanger tube having a second fin with a second curved outer surface; 
 a second set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a second row, the second set of heat exchanger tubes comprising a third heat exchanger tube having a third fin that is at least partially formed with a first angled surface and a second angled surface; and 
 a corrugated baffle comprising a first slit having a first length and a second slit having a second length that is less than the first length; 
 wherein the third heat exchanger tube is arranged such that the third fin is disposed at least partially between the first curved outer surface and the second curved outer surface, and 
 wherein the first set of heat exchanger tubes has a first number of heat exchanger tubes, and the second set of heat exchanger tubes has a second number of heat exchanger tubes that is greater than the first number of heat exchanger tubes. 
   
     
     
         14 . The water heater of  claim 13 , wherein the first fin of the first heat exchanger tube further comprises:
 a first flat side surface; and   a second flat side surface;   wherein a first end of the first curved outer surface is adjacent to the first flat side surface, and a second end of the first curved outer surface is adjacent to the second flat side surface.   
     
     
         15 . The water heater of  claim 13 , wherein each heat exchanger tube of the first set of heat exchanger tubes has a first geometrical configuration, and each heat exchanger tube of the second set of heat exchanger tubes has the first geometrical configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater of  claim 13 , wherein the first set of heat exchanger tubes and the second set of heat exchanger tubes are arranged in an offset configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A water heater comprising:
 a heat exchanger comprising:
 a first set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a first row, the first set of heat exchanger tubes comprising a first heat exchanger tube having a first fin with a first curved outer surface, and a second heat exchanger tube having a second fin with a second curved outer surface; and 
 a second set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a second row, the second set of heat exchanger tubes comprising a third heat exchanger tube having a third fin that is at least partially formed with a first angled surface and a second angled surface; 
 wherein the third heat exchanger tube is arranged such that the third fin is disposed at least partially between the first curved outer surface and the second curved outer surface, 
 wherein the first set of heat exchanger tubes has a first number of heat exchanger tubes, and the second set of heat exchanger tubes has a second number of heat exchanger tubes that is greater than the first number of heat exchanger tubes, and 
 wherein the first set of heat exchanger tubes and the second set of heat exchanger tubes are arranged in an offset configuration.